University Daily Kansan / Monday, November 24, 1986
Sports Monday
7
Cheryl Youngblood/KANSAN
Trainers, managers take the field
Mike Armstrong, KU football trainer, drops back for a pass. The managers and the trained players had an annual football game yesterday at Memorial Stadium.
Players switch positions with management in annual football game
By ANNE LUSCOMBE
During yesterday's blustery afternoon, two teams faced each other in Memorial Stadium, destined to prove that Kansas can win against a Big Eight Conference team.
Sports writer
It was the 10th annual manager-trainer game. Some of the faces on the field and sidelines looked familiar, but they were out of character.
The score was 46-8, believable only when knowing who KU's opponent was. Truer to recent games, Kansas lost the game too.
Memorial Stadium was a little bit empi tter than during the fourth quarter of the Oklahoma game. But the four fans had the opportunity to wave the wheat, something Kansas fans had missed. They also did quick versions of the wave, very quick versions.
The managers dominated the game, just as they have dominated the series. Touchdowns came easily — playing catch during the regular season practices must have helped.
Instead of a Jayhawk uniform, wide receiver and quarterback Tom Quick, strong safety Jamey Steinhauser and free safety Wayne Ziegler wore whistles and were the referees. Mike Orth, quarterback, Bob Pieper, offensive tackle, and Kevin Harder, free safety, filled in as the chain gang. wide receiver Ronnie Caldwell found out what it was like to be a waterboy.
The managers now lead the series, which began in 1977, 9-1. Last year they trounced the trainers 31-12. The trainers haven't won since the first game Nov. 20, 1977.
Due to lack of numbers, the teams opted to play eight-man football.
Bunglesome pads were left in the equipment room. These men preferred to rough it and play flag
The trainer defense could easily relate to what the Jayhawks have felt — always on the field.
The trainers took the form of the Jayhawks while the managers looked like Oklahoma, Nebraska or Missouri. The managers took an early lead, capitalizing on many trainer turnovers. Again, a common Jayhawk commodity.
With 34 seconds left in the first half, manager Chris Jones broke away to score the last touchdown of the half. The score was 19-0. The extra point kick bobbled up in the air, hit the crossbars and fell through, but the referees refused to count it.
Jones, short but quick, became his own blocker later in the game, as he threw two trainers to the other side.
Halftime entertainment was provided by the senior football players' version of Missouri's Golden Girls. Footballs in their sweatshirts rounded out their figures. Ziegler, Harder, Quick, Pieper, Orth and junior Steve Isham performed their rendition of a collegiate drill team as they high kicked through colorful cheers.
It wasn't until the second half that the main attraction of the manager team, Todd "Leeper" Williams finally entered the game. The referees, teammates and chain gang had been incessantly yelling "Leeper" until Williams designed to play
As it become evident that the managers would score again chants of "goal posts" rang across the sidelines. When Williams dashed into the endzone, the referees and chain gang rushed the uprights. Harder was boosted to the top where he looked like Robin Williams clinging to the crossbars in the opening scenes of "Mork and Mindy."
“This will be the only reason for it this year, we gotta have a little fun.” Orth said before the goal.
In the middle of the fourth quarter, trainer coach and player Lynn Bott arrived. He traced across the field to the sidelines wearing lucky number 13.
Williams had just one word for his touchdown run: "Awesome."
Bott had been delayed because of early Thanksgiving festivities. The turkey and stuffing hadn't yet settled when Bott made a leaping catch and fell over. This prompted several imitations from the referees and chain gang.
"It hurt a lot that Lynn Bott didn't show up until the fourth quarter because of prior commitments," said trainer Steve Bowman. "It didn't feel good on our part (the losing side of the Kansas game) but we're used to losing. We have a tradition to uphold."
The managers completed their 46-8 pounding of the trainers when they opted for two-point run ins.
"We felt great going in. We knew we'd win all along." manager Joel Flachsbarth said. "Mike Hill (equipment manager and manager's coach) told us if we lose the game we don't come back next year."
Jayhawks fall in semifinals
By JANE ZACHMAN
Hardly a dry eye could be found on the Kansas bench Saturday night after the Jayhawk volleyball team lost a heartbreaking semifinal match in the Big Eight Conference post-season tournament.
KU's volleyball season ended with a five-game loss to Oklahoma, whom Kansas had beaten in one of two matches during the regular season. The Jayhawks had a season record of 26-9, their best ever.
Kansas fell to the Sooners at the tournament at Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, Mo. in five games, 15-3, 11-15, 8-15, 15-2, 17-15. One of KU's best players, Catalina Suarez, missed most of the match after she injured her knee in the first game.
"We started hitting stupid," said head coach Frankie Albitz. "We gave ourselves problems."
15-11, 15-6.
After being blown out in the fourth game, Kansas rallied to a 13-8 lead in the final game. The Sooners fought back to 13-13. A Kansas error gave Oklahoma a 14-13 lead, then a Sooner kill fell out of bounds to tie the game at 14. The score was tied at 15, but two Oklahoma kills got by the Jayhawk defense, and the Sooners won 17-15.
She said the Jayhawks couldn't put away the important points.
Setter Monica Spencer said, "We just let down. We seemed to be playing as six people instead of one."
To advance to the semifinals, the Jayhawks beat Kansas State Friday night in five games, 15-10, 7-15, 3-15, 15-12, 15-13.
The loss to Oklahoma put the Jayhawks in third place in the conference, the team's best finish since 1978 when it tied for third.
"KU played as well as they could possibly play," said Oklahoma head coach Miles Pabst. He said the Sooners did not play up to their aptitude.
Yesterday, defending Big Eight champion Nebraska beat Oklahoma in three games in the finals. 15-13.
Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference volleyball tournament
Finals
Nebraska def. Oklahoma 15-13, 15-11,
15-6
Semifinals
Oklahoma def. Kansas 15-3, 11-15,
18-5, 15-2, 17-15
Nebraska def. Iowa State 12-15, 15-10,
15-2, 15-8
Kansas def, Kansas State 15-10, 7-15,
3-15, 15-12, 15-13
Oklahoma def. Colorado 15-10, 15-0,
15-5
lowa State def. Missouri 15-10, 9-15,
15-12, 15-10
"I felt like we were a half step slow," he said. "We made errors at the most inopportune times, when we were in control. Our intensity was not there."
Kansas lost Suarez after an injury when the Jayhawks were down 2-10 in the first game against Oklahoma. Suarez leads the team in defensive saves and kills.
Suarez then took herself out of the game. She said she was on the floor to get a dig, or defensive save, when she bent her knee too far. Trainers at the match told Suarez that they suspected cartilage damage to her right knee.
"I know they (the Jayhawks) didn't feel too good," Suarez said about her leaving the game, "but I felt working hard and did really well."
Outside hitter Tammy Hill said the loss of Suarez made the Jayhawks oull together.
"It hurt, but we played with a lot of
teamwork after that," she said.
Spencer said. "We played well as a team, but she (Surez) has so much experience and she's a leader in her position. It really hurt to lose her."
Albita said she thought the Abulta's confidence after Superfed's takeover.
The Jayhawks tried to keep up their intensity without Suarez, but they dropped the first game 3-15.
Kansas scored the first three points of the second game, held the lead and
Oklahoma took the fourth game to 14-0 before Kansas scored. The Jayhawks grabbed two points then the Sooners finished it. 15-2.
Oklahoma scored the first four points at the start of the third game. Kansas tied the game at 6-6 and took over. The Sooners managed only two more points before Kansas won 15-8.
"Little things broke down," said outside hitter Shannon Ridgeway. "We got too careful."
Hill said, "We didn't cover on defense, and I don't think our hitters really felt confident."
Outside hitter Jodi Oelschlager said, "I thought we played well. We'll be back again next year."
Middle blocker Kerri Muir led the Oklahoma offense with 20 of the Sooners' 71 kills and a hitting percentage of .378 on a scale of .500. Outside hitter Debbie Carlson and middle blocker Trellen Carter each had 16 kills, and Carter four service aces.
Middle blocker Julie Ester topped the Kansas offense with 20 of the Jayhawks 66 kills. Ridgeway had 11, and Hill had 10.
Ridgway also led the Kansas defense with 23 digs. Outside hitter Kristi Conway had 11, and Spencer had 10.
Mulry had 17 digs for Oklahoma, and outside hitter Annette Dobbs had 15.
Outside hitter Jodi Oelschlager goes up for a kill against the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma defeated Kansas in five games Saturday night in the semifinals of the Big Eight Conference post-season tournament.
Lomax returns, leads St. Louis in win over Chiefs
The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS — Neil Lomax answered his critics the best possible way yesterday while coming off the bench to spark a victory by the lowly St. Louis Cardinals.
Lomax, who had given way to Cliff Stoudt during a two-week hiatus, celebrated his return by passing for 185 vards and three touchdowns.
"The whole team played well," the sixth-year quarterback said after engineering a 23-14 triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs. "I had confidence in myself. Our team is limited in a lot of areas, but everybody played well."
"There's no doubt right now that he'll start against Washington," the coach said in reference to the Cards game next week against the Redskins. "I haven't really thought about it yet, but he played well today."
St. Louis head coach Gene Stallings said the two-week layoff probably served as a tonic for the returning plaver.
"I'd be lying if I said there wasn't some extra pressure on us all,
especially me." Lomax said. "I've got a lot of faith. I had a good time. I'm no hero. I'm just going out there and doing my job."
In addition to Lomax, a reararranged St. Louis line that was jugged because of injuries drew Stallings' praise.
John Mackovic, Kansas City head coach, admitted disappointment in a lackluster Chiefs showing but at the same time praised the victors.
"We obviously didn't play very well, but we give's St. Louis credit. Neil Lomax had a great game." "The team would have played the time they gave Lomax to throw."
"They didn't really blow anybody off the ball, but they got the job done."
Roy Green gathered in one of his touchdown passes and J. T. Smith, a former Kansas City receiver, the other two. St. Louis put a dent in the playoff hopes of the Chiefs, who dropped to 7-5.
Neil had enough time," Stallings said. "I was pleased."
Lomax, while quieting his critics in a chilled Busch Stadium turnout of 29,680, helped the Cards climb to 3-9 with the victory.
Al "Bubba" Baker and David Galloway keyed a Cards defensive charge, helping St. Louis blank its opponent until Stephone Paige grabbed Bill Kenney's touchdown passes of 6 and 13 yards in the closing eight minutes.
Green tucked in Lomax' 5-yard pass late in the opening period, giving the Cards their first quarter touchdown of the season. Eric Schubert kicked a 20-yard goal field to make it 9-0 near the half, and Smith hauled in scoring passes of 25 and 4 yards from Lomax in the third and fourth quarters.
terference during St. Louis' first touchdown drive, hampered Kansas City in the opening half.
Lomax drove the Cards 77 yards the second time they had the ball, chipping in a 15-yard run to the procession. Galloway's second fumble recovery set up Schubert's field goal, and St. Louis rolled 80 yards and 70 yards to its second-half scores before the Chiefs retaliated.
A siege of penalties, including a 20-yard infraction for pass in
Galloway also recovered a fumble by Kansas City tight end Paul Coffman only two plays after Chiefs cornerback Kevin Ross recovered Stump Mitchell's bobble for St. Louis. Kansas City's Nick Lowery fell short on a 47-yard field goal try late in the third period.
Memphis State,OU make quarterfinals at NIT
The Associated Press
Memphis State, scandalized by the federal indictment of its former coach and by NCAA probation, moved into the quarterfinals of the pre-season National Invitiation Tournament yesterday after a first-round upset.
The big quarterfinal match has seventhranked Oklahoma at No. 5 Nevada-Las Vegas. The other games are Temple at Villanova and Texas Christian at highly regarded Western Kentucky.
The unranked Tigers beat 20th-ranked Cleveland State 70-66 Saturday night at Memphis. Memphis State now will play Michigan in the quarterfinals.
Memphis State, already stunned by NCAA to probation to both its basketball and football
Both the 'Tigers' football and basketball teams are banned from postseason action this season.
programs, received further bad news Thursday when former basketball coach Dana Kirk was named in an 11-count indictment. Memphis State fired Kirk in September.
The Tigers led 65-56 with four minutes left, but Cleveland State cut the deficit to 67-64 in the next minute.
Vincent Askew scored 20 points and had 11 rebounds for Memphis State.
Larry Finch, who replaced Kirk as the Tigers' coach, gave part of the credit for the victory to freshman Sylvester Gray, who came off to score 10 points and grab eight rebounds.
"He's only practiced a week," Finch said.
"Imagine what he could have done if he had a little time to work."
Michigan advanced with a 115-107 victory over Bradley on Friday night. Gary Grant had 34 points for the Wolverines.
Nevada-Las Vegas beat 19th-ranked Arizona 92-87, and Oklahoma defeated Brigham Young 119-110 in the first round Friday. Freddie Banks led Las Vegas with 28 points, and Gerald Paddio scored 16 in the second half as the Rebels rallied from a nine-point deficit with five minutes to play.
Tim McCaister scored 44 points for Oklahoma, which trailed 33-51 at halftime.
Temple beat Virginia 79-75 and Villanova downed Howard 71-61 to earn their quarterfinal berth. Texas Christian beat Louisiana State
13-74, and Western Kentucky defeated Notre Dame 80-63 in the other Friday night games.
The semifinals will be played in Madison Square Garden at New York on Friday, and the championship and third-play games will take place Saturday.
Nate Blackwell had 24 points for Temple, which won its opening game of the season for the 34th straight year. The loss snapped a 49-game home winning streak for Virginia. Doug West scored 18 for Villanova, which scored 17 of the first 19 points in the second half and broke away from a 49-49 tie.
Carven Holcombe scored 20 points and led a 23-2 first-half spurt that led Texas Christian over LSU. Tellis Frank had 17 points as Western Kentucky led Notre Dame throughout their contest.
From staff and wire reports
KU's Orth uncertain on future
COLUMBIA, Mo. — After the Jayhawks 48-0 loss to Missouri on Saturday, the status of Kansas quarterback Mike Orth was uncertain.
Orth has a year of eligibility remaining, but he graduates in December and must decide whether to return to Kansas next season.
"It's been a really rough year for me this year, and it definitely has not turned out the way that I had hoped," Orth said after the game.
Orth said at another time, however, that he was pretty sure he would be back next season.
"I'm not sure right now if I'm going to back come next year."
Newspapers reported yesterday that Orth may not be back, and he was unavailable for comment last night to confirm or deny the reports.
Wide receiver Tom Quick said last week that Orth was leaving the team
"I don't know where all this is coming from," Quick said. "People have to realize that Mike's not just a football player, he's got intellectual capabilities and his priorities may be different. It's his decision."